Connector

ABSTRACT

A dielectric enclosure having a plug receiving cavity, one wall of which includes a multiplicity of spaced orifices extending generally parallel to the depth of the cavity and a like multiplicity of grooves each of which extends from the front end of an individual orifice to the cavity. Each orifice accommodates a splicing member, the rear portion of which embraces an insulated conductor and the forward portion of which clamps the bared end of the conductor into engagement with the end of a wire spring contact. The other end of each insulated conductor is terminated by a cord tip, and the remainder of each wire spring contact comprises a first portion that is positioned within the associated groove and a second portion that extends rearwardly cantilever fashion within the plug receiving cavity.

United States Patent 1 Krumreich et a1.

[ Nov. 26, 1974 1 1 CONNECTOR [75] Inventors: Charles Louis Krumreich;Albert Eugene Mulbarger, .lr., both of Indianapolis; Stephen WilliamWalden, Morral Township. Shelby County, all of Ind.

[73] Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories,

Incorporated, Murray Hill. NJ.

22 Filed: Apr. 2, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 346,724

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.232,804, March 8,

1972, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl..... 339/126 R, 339/176 M, 339/221 M,

339/276 T [51] Int. Cl. H0lr ll/08, H02b 1/02 [58] Field of Search339/17 F, 17 L, 17 LM,

339/91, 119 R, 119 L,l25,l26, 128,107, 176 M, 176 MF, 176 MP, 208, 221,223, 58, 276; 179/100; 248/27 {56] References Cited UNlTED STATESPATENTS 2.439.947 4/1948 Pontius 339/223 3.001.171 9/1961 Schultz339/176 MP X 3.074.044 H1963 Shaw et a1 339/176 MP 3.209.141 9/1965Nieder-Westermann 339/126 R X 3.289.147 11/1966 Takeuchi et a1. 339/176MP 3.317.887 5/1967 Henschen et a1. 339/256 R 3.320.574 5/1967 Tuchel339/276 R X 3.369.214 2/1968 Krumreich et a1 339/105 3.430.188 2/1969Leach 339/128 3,465,279 9/1969 Krehbiel 339/176 M X 3,558,831 1/1971Prescott et a1 179/100 R 3,601,782 8/1971 Vlijmen ct a1. 339/176 MP X3,617,982 11/1971 Hardesty 339/176 M X 3,634,879 l/l972 Longeneckcr cta1. 339/221 M X 3,654,592 4/1972 Primorac 339/176 MP 3,699,498 10/1972Hardcsly cl a1 339/221 M X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,478,3853/1967 France 339/276 R 56,278 6/1967 Germany 1 339/223 R 218,59512/1961 Austria 339/126 R Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier AssistantExaminerLawrence .1. Staab Attorney, Agent, or Firml-l. L. Newman [57]ABSTRACT A dielectric enclosure having a plug receiving cavity, one wallof which includes a multiplicity of spaced orifices extending generallyparallel to the depth of the cavity and a like multiplicity of grooveseach of which extends from the front end of an individual orifice to thecavity. Each orifice accommodates a splicing member, the rear portion ofwhich embraces an insulated conductor and the forward portion of whichclamps the bared end of the conductor into engagement with the end of awire spring contact. The other end of each insulated conductor isterminated by a cord tip, and the remainder of each wire spring contactcomprises a first portion that is positioned within the associatedgroove and a second portion that extends rearwardly cantilever fashionwithin the plug receiving cavity.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CONNECTOR CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of copendingapplication, Ser. No. 232,804, filed Mar. 8, 1972, and now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of electricalconnectors and to subassemblies thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The direction of electrical technology todayis toward smaller and smaller components, and this is no less true withrespect to electrical connectors than it is with respect to otherdiscrete components. However, one major problem in this movement towardminiaturization of connectors is manufacturability. As connectors becomesmaller, they typically become more difficult and consequently moreexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The connector of the present invention lendsitself to miniaturization, but in addition, it is designed so thatelements of the connector can be assembled by automated machinery.

An illustrative embodiment of the connector comprises a dielectricenclosure having a plug receiving cavity at the front end thereof. Oneof the walls that defines the cavity includes a multiplicity of orificesthat are spaced both from one another and from the cavity and extendfrom the front to the rear of the enclosure. The front end of this wallalso includes a multiplicity of grooves, each of which is exposed to theexterior of the enclosure and extends from an individual orifice to theplug receiving cavity. I

Each orifice accommodates a splicing member that is essentially the samesize as the orifice. The rear portion of each splicing member embracesan insulated conductor while the forward portion clamps the bared end ofthe conductor into engagement with the end of a wire spring contact. Theother end of each insulated conductor is terminated by a cord tip, andthe remainder of each wire spring contact comprises a first portion thatis positioned within the associated groove and a second portion thatextends rearwardly cantilever fashion within the plug receiving cavity.

One method of assembling the connector is to cut off a preselectedlength of insulated conductor fed from a reel, and simultaneously stripthe insulation from both ends. One'bared end is then placed in a stripfed cord tip, while the other bared end is placed in a strip fedsplicing member concurrently with a reel fed length of wire springcontact. The cord tip is thereafter crimped to join it to the insulatedconductor, and the splicing member is crimped to join the conductor tothe wire spring contact, after which the contact is cut to length. Amultiplicity of such contact assemblies are formed simultaneously, andthe splicing member of each is inserted into one of the orifices withthe wire spring contact extending out of the forward end. The assemblyis completed by the wire spring contacts being formed to the desiredconfiguration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective showing theconnector of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing one of the orifices of the-connector;

FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 2 showing a contact assembly positionedwithin the orifice;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3 showing themanner in which the splicing member of the contact assembly connects theinsulated conductor to the wire spring contact; and

FIG. 5 and 6 are exploded perspective views showing alternativeembodiments of the connector of the invention, these embodiments beingadapted to be secured in place between two adjacent holding walls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1 of thedrawing, a connector in accordance with the present invention comprisesa dielectric enclosure 10 consisting of a base and a top 200. The base100 includes a pair of side walls upstanding from a bottom 120, and theinside of each side wall has a ledge 112 that extends from the front ofthe wall to an inwardly extending flange 1 14 at the rear of the wall.The base 100 further includes a front wall 130 upstanding from thebottom and a rear wall 140 extending between the side walls 110 adjacentto the upper ends thereof. The front wall has a single notch formed inits upper surface while the rear wall has four parallel slots formed inits upper surface. Finally, the base 100 has hollow cylindrical bossesat the sides thereof for accommodating fasteners that secure theconnector in place.

The top 200 of the enclosure 10 has a pair of recesses 210 formed in theunderside 220 thereof, the recesses being of a size and space so as toaccommodate the upper ends of the side walls 110 of the base 100. In addition, the top 200 has four staggered orifices 230 that are spaced bothfrom one another and from the underside 220. As shown in FIG. 2, eachorifice 230 extends from the front to the rear of the top 200 andincludes a bore portion 232 at the forward end thereof and a counterboreportion 234 at the rear end thereof. Furthermore, the interior of thecounterbore portion 234 includes a plurality of spaced axially extendingribs 235.

top 200 includes four parallel grooves 240, each of which extends fromthe front end of an individual orifice 230 to the underside 220. Theentire length of each groove 240 is exposed to the exterior of the top200 and the bottom surface of each groove is inclined rearwardly. Thespacing between the grooves 240 is the same as the spacing between theslots 145 in the rear wall 140 in the base 100, and the location of thegrooves with respect to the recesses 210 is the same as the location ofthe slots with respect to the side walls 110. Consequently, when the top200 is placed on the base 100, the grooves 240 are in registration withthe slots 14S.

Turning to FIG. 3 and 4, the connector further includes four contactassemblies 300, each of which comprises a wire spring contact 310 joinedto an insulated lead wire 320 by a splicing member 330. The wire springcontact 310 is formed from a high tensile strength spring material suchas spring temper phos- Referring now to both FIG. 1 and 2, the front ofthe phor bronze, while the splicing member 330 is formed from arelatively malleable material such as brass. The splicing member 330comprises a U-shaped channel having a bottom and two side wallsextending in generally the same direction from the bottom, and a firstportion 332 at one end of the channel is smaller in crosssection than asecond portion 334 at the other end. The larger portion 334 accommodatesthe insulated lead wire 320 while the smaller portion 332 accommodatesthe tail end of the wire spring contact 310 and the bared end 322 of thelead wire. The channel when crimped around these elements is formed intoa sleeve that tightly grips the elements and prevents them from beingdisplaced with respect to one another. The high pressure directengagement of the bared end 332 of the lead wire 320 with the wirespring contact 310 provides a good electrical connection therebetween.The other end of the insulated lead wire 320 is terminated by a cord tip340.

Referring also to FIG. 2, each splicing member 330 is accommodated by anindividual orifice 230 in the top 200 by first inserting the unformedwire spring contact 310 through the orifice and then inserting thesplicing members into the orifice. The crimping portion 332 of eachsplicing member 330 is slightly smaller than the bore 232 of eachorifice 230, but the crimped portion 334 of each splicing member, whileslightly smaller than the counter-bore 234, is slightly larger than thespacing between the tops of the ribs 235. Hence, there is aninterference fit therebetween, and when each splicing member 330 isinserted into its associated orifice 230, the ribs 235 clamp it inplace.

Once the splicing members 330 are secured within the orifice 230, eachwire spring contact 310 is formed to provide a first portion 312 that ispositioned within the associated groove 240, the groove being slightlywider than the diameter of the contact. In addition, each wire springcontact 310 is formed to provide a second portion 314 that extendsrearwardly cantilever fashion beneath the underside 220 of the top 200,and the second portion is of a length so that when the top is positionedon the base 100 (FIG. 1), the free end of the contact is accommodated bythe corresponding slot 145 in the rear wall 140 of the base. The slots145 serve to maintain the second portions 314 of the contacts 310 inparallel alignment.

Referring again to FIG. 1,. the top 200 is advantageously joined to thebase 100 by ultrasonic bonding, energy directors 212 being provided inthe recesses 210 of the top to facilitate this operation. The enclosurethereby formed includes a plug receiving cavity that is bounded by theunderside 220 at the top, the side walls 110 at the side, and the uppersurfaces of the ledges 112 at the bottom. The notched front wall 130serves as a catch for the latch of the plug accommodated by the opening,and the flanges 114 serve as stops for limiting the rearward motion ofthe plug.

An example of a plug adapted to mate with the connector of thisinvention is disclosed in the copending application Ser. No. 232,803,filed the same day as the present application, now US. Pat. No.3,761,869. Furthermore, when the connector is mated with a plug of thistype, the slotted rear wall 140 may be eliminated inasmuch as the plugitself serves to capture the portions 314 of the wire spring contacts310 and locate them in registration with the contacts of the plug.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is seen that the enclosure of theconnector of this invention may take many different shapes and ratherthan being formed by the joining of multiple parts it may beadvantageously formed as a unitary member. Furthermore, rather thanbeing secured in place by means of fasteners, the connector may besimply slipped into place and secured between the edges of two adjacentwalls.

Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the enclosure 10 includes sidewalls that extend forward of the front wall 130, the forward ends of theside walls being inclined and having outwardly extending flanges 116'.In addition, the upper ends of the side walls 110' extend forward of thetop 200 to provide ledges 118'.

The bottom 120' of the enclosure 10' includes a slot 122 that extendsthe entire width of the enclosure, and the rear wall of the slotcomprises a cantilevered vane 124 that has a forwardly protruding foot125' at the lower end and side extremities thereof. In addition, thebottom 120' includes a laterally extending tab 126' having a dependingstud 128.

The connector shown in FIG. 5 is secured between a holding wall 410,which is inclined at the same angle as the forward ends of side walls110', and a holding wall 420 having an upstanding portion 422 and ahorizontal portion 424. The lower end of the holding wall 410 has anopening 412 formed therein, and the sides of the opening are spaced fromone another the same distance as and having the same configuration asthe external surfaces of the side walls 110' adjacent to the flanges116'. The upstanding portion 422 of the holding wall 420 has a thicknessthat is slightly less than the width of the slot 122, while thehorizontal portion 424 has a hole 425 therein that conforms to the shapeof the stud 128'.

The connector is secured in place by positioning the enclosure 10' sothat the slot 122 overlies the upstanding portion 422 of the holdingwall 420 and the stud 128 overlies the hole 425 in the horizontalportion 424. The connector is then moved downward causing the foot 125'of the vane 124 to engage the edge of the upstanding portion 422.Continued downward movement of the connector results in the rearwarddeflection of the vane 124' and the insertion of the upstanding portion422 into the slot 122'. This is followed by the insertion of the stud128' into the hole 425 as the bottom 120' of the enclosure 10' movesinto engagement with the horizontal portion 424.

The positioning of the stud 128 in the hole 425 serves to properlylocate the connector with respect to the holding wall 420 while thedeflected vane 124 acts to press the foot 125 against the upstandingwall portion 422 to provide frictional engagement therewith. With theconnector in position, the holding wall 410 is moved downward to placethe sides of the opening 412 astride the side walls 110' immediatelybehind the flanges 116' and to place the top of the opening inengagement with the ledges 118'.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in this embodiment the enclosure 10" includesside walls 110" that extend forward of the top 200" to provide ledges118". In addition, the bottom 120 includes a slot 122" that extends theentire width of the enclosure 10 and has a tongue 123 positionedtherein.

The connector is secured between holding walls 430 and 440. The holdingwall 430 has an opening 432 in the lower end thereof of a size and shapeto embrace the exterior of the side walls 110" at the forward end of theenclosure The holding wall 440 has an opening 442 in the upper endthereof that is of a size and shape to embrace the tongue 123", the wallhaving a thickness that is slightly less than the width of the slot122".

The connector is secured in place by positioning the enclsoure 10 sothat the slot 122" overlies the wall 440 and the tongue 123" is inalignment with the opening 442. The connector is then moved downward toplace the tongue 123' into the opening 442 and to move the portion ofthe wall 440 immediately adjacent the opening into the slot 122". Thewall 430 is thereafter moved downward to place the sides of the opening432 astride the side walls 110" and the top of the opening in engagementwith the ledges 118".

As can be surmised from FIGS. 5 and 6, the walls 410 and 430respectively overlap the walls 420 and 440, and in the usual situationthe walls are the sides of a pair of structures that are securedtogether to form an enclosure for electrical components, the connectorserving to provide electrical connection to those components.

Although three embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that these are only illustrative andthat various modifications may be made therein without departing fromthe scope and spirit of this invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A connector comprising:

a dielectric enclosure including a plurality of spaced orifices thatextend from the front to the rear of the enclosure, each orificecomprising a bore portion at the forward end thereof and a counter boreportion at the rear end thereof, the enclosure further including aplurality of grooves at the front end thereof, each groove beingassociated with an individual orifice and extending transversely to thelongitudinal axis of that orifice, the grooves being exposed to theexterior of the enclosure; and

a plurality of contact assemblies, each of which comprises a springcontact, an insulated conductor, and a splicing member the rear portionof which embraces the insulated conductor and the forward portion ofwhich clamps a bared end of the conductor to an end of the springcontact, the forward portion of each splicing member being accommodatedin the bore portion of an individual orifice and the rear portion beingaccommodated in the counter bore portion of the orifice, the springcontact extending from the front end of the orifice and including afirst portion positioned within the transverse groove associated withthe orifice and a second portion extending rearwardly from the firstportion.

2. A connector as in claim 1 wherein each spring contact comprises awire spring contact formed of high tensile strength spring metal and thesplicing member comprises a U-shaped channel formed of relativelymalleable metal, the rear portion of the splicing member being crimpedabout the insulated conductor and as to form a high pressure directelectrical connection between the conductor and the wire spring contact.

3. A connector as in claim 1 wherein the enclosure further includes aplug receiving cavity open to the front of the enclosure, the secondportion of the spring contacts extending rearwardly cantilever fashionwithin the cavity.

4. A connector as in claim 3 wherein the enclosure further includes aslotted wall at the rear of the plug receiving cavity, the free ends ofthe second portion of each spring contact being accommodated within anindividual slot in the slotted wall.

5. A connector as in claim 4 wherein the enclosure comprises a base anda top, the top comprising one wall of the plug receiving cavity andincluding the orifices in which the contact assemblies are supported,and the base comprising walls defining the remainder of the plugreceiving cavity and including the slotted wall.

6. A connector as in claim 5 wherein the base includes a pair of spacedside walls and the top includes a pair of recesses formed in theunderside thereof adapted to accommodate the upper ends of the sidewalls.

7. A connector adapted to be held in place between the edges of a pairof adjacent holding walls, the edge of a first of the walls including anopening the periphery of which is shaped to embrace a portion of theconnector, the connector comprising:

a dielectric enclosure having a plug receiving cavity open to the frontof the enclosure, a first of the walls defining the plug receivingcavity including a plurality of orifices that extend from the front tothe rear of the enclosure, the orifices being spaced both from oneanother and from the plug receiving cavity, the first wall furtherincluding a plurality of grooves at the front end thereof, each groovebeing associated with an individual orifice and extending transverselyto the longitudinal axis of that orifice, the grooves extending to theplug receiving cavity and being exposed to the exterior of theenclosure, the exterior of the enclosure including a ledge engaged bythe first holding wall and a slot for accommodating an edge of thesecond holding wall, the slot having a tongue located there within thatis accommodated by a complementary opening in the edge of the secondholding wall for locating the connector with respect to the secondholding wall; and

a plurality of contact assemblies, each of which comprises a springcontact having a splicing member at one end, the splicing member of eachcontact assembly being accommodated by an individual orifice, the springcontact extending from the front end of the orifice and including afirst portion positioned within the transverse groove associated withthe orifice and a second portion extending rearwardly cantilever fashionwithin the plug receiving opening.

8. A connector adapted to be held in place between the edges of a pairof adjacent holding walls, the edges of a first of the walls includingan opening the periphery of which is shaped to embrace a portion of theconnector, the connector comprising:

a dielectric enclosure having a plug receiving cavity open to the frontof the enclosure, a first of the walls defining the plug receivingcavity including a plurality of orifices that extend from the front tothe rear of the enclosure, the orifices being spaced both from oneanother and from the plug receiving cavity, the first wall furtherincluding a plurality of grooves at the front end thereof, each groovebeing associated with an individual orifice and extending transverselyto the longitudinal axis of that orifice, the grooves extending to theplug receiving cavity and being exposed to the exterior of theenclosure, the exterior of the enclosure including a ledge engaged bythe first holding wall and a slot for accommodating an edge of thesecond holding wall, one of the surfaces defining the slot including aprotrusion for providing frictional engagement with the second holdingwall; and

a plurality of contact assemblies, each of which comprises a springcontact having a splicing member at one end, the splicing member of eachcontact assembly being accommodated by an individual orifice, the springcontact extending from the front end of the orifice and including afirst portion positioned within the transverse groove associated withthe orifice and a second portion extending rearwardly cantilever fashionwithin the plug receiving opening.

9. A slip-n connector adapted to be secured in place between the edgesof a pair of adjacent holding walls, the edge of a first of the holdingwalls including a shaped opening, the connector comprising an enclosurehaving a plug receiving cavity that is open to the front of theenclosure and a plurality of contacts that are exposed to the interiorof the cavity, the front end of the enclosure including external sidesurfaces that are spaced from one another the same distance as and havethe same configuration as the sides of the opening in the first holdingwall, the front end of the enclosure also including a ledge extending oneach side of the plug receiving cavity for engagement by the firstholding wall, the enclosure further including a slot for accommodatingan edge of the second holding wall, the slot having a tongue locatedtherewithin, the tongue being accommodated by a complementary opening inthe edge of the second holding wall for locating the connector withrespect to the second holding wall.

10. A slip-on connector adapted to be secured in place between the edgesof a pair of adjacent holding walls, the edge of a first of the holdingwalls including a shaped opening, the connector comprising an enclosurehaving a plug receiving cavity that is open to the front of theenclosure and a plurality of contacts that are exposed to the interiorof the cavity, the front end of the enclosure including external sidesurfaces that are spaced from one another the same distance as and havethe same configuration as the sides of the opening in the first holdingwall, the front end of the enclosure also including a ledge extending oneach side of the plug receiving cavity for engagement by the firstholding wall, the enclosure further including a slot for accommodatingan edge of the second holding wall, the surfaces defining the slotincluding a protrusion for providing frictional engagement with thesecond holding wall.

11. A slip-on connector adapted to be secured in place between the edgesof a pair of adjacent holding walls, the edge of a first of the holdingwalls including a shaped opening, the connector comprising an enclosureincluding external side surfaces that are spaced from one another thesame distance as and have the same configuration as the sides of theopening in the first holding wall, the enclosure also including a ledgefor engagement by the first holding wall and a slot for accommodating anedge of the second holding wall, the slot having a tongue locatedtherewithin, the tongue being accommodated by a complementary opening inthe edges of the second holding wall.

12. A slip-on connector adapted to be secured in place between the edgesof a pair of adjacent holding walls, the edge of a first of the holdingwalls including a shaped opening, the connector comprising an enclosureincluding external side surfaces that are spaced from one another thesame distance as and have the same configuration as the sides of theopening in the first holding wall, the enclosure also including a ledgefor engagement by the first holding wall and a slot for accommodating anedge of the second holding wall, the surfaces defining the slotincluding a protrusion for providing frictional engagement with thesecond hold-

1. A connector comprising: a dielectric enclosure including a pluralityof spaced orifices that extend from the front to the rear of theenclosure, each orifice comprising a bore portion at the forward endthereof and a counter bore portion at the rear end thereof, theenclosure further including a plurality of grooves at the front endthereof, each groove being associated with an individual orifice andextending transversely to the longitudinal axis of that orifice, thegrooves being exposed to the exterior of the enclosure; and a pluralityof contact assemblies, each of which comprises a spring contact, aninsulated conductor, and a splicing member the rear portion of whichembraces the insulated conductor and the forward portion of which clampsa bared end of the conductor to an end of the spring contact, theforward portion of each splicing member being accommodated in the boreportion of an individual orifice and the rear portion being accommodatedin the counter bore portion of the orifice, the spring contact extendingfrom the front end of the orifice and including a first portionpositioned within the transverse groove associated with the orifice anda second portion extending rearwardly from the first portion.
 2. Aconnector as in claim 1 wherein each spring contact comprises a wirespring contact formed of high tensile strength spring metal and thesplicing member comprises a U-shaped channel formed of relativelymalleable metal, the rear portion of the splicing member being crimpedabout the insulated conductor and being larger in cross section than theforward portion which is crimped about the bared end of the conductorand an end of the wire spring contact in such manner as to form a highpressure direct electrical connection between the conductor and the wirespring contact.
 3. A connector as in claim 1 wherein the enclosurefurther includes a plug receiving cavity open to the front of theenclosure, the second portion of the spring contacts extendingrearwardly cantilever fashion within the cavity.
 4. A connector as inclaim 3 wherein the enclosure further includes a slotted wall at therear of the plug receiving cavity, the free ends of the second portionof each spring contact being accommodated within an individual slot inthe slotted wall.
 5. A connector as in claim 4 wherein the enclosurecomprises a base and a top, the top comprising one wall of the plugreceiving cavity and including the orifices in which the contactassemblies are supported, and the base comprising walls defining theremainder of the plug receiving cavity and including the slotted wall.6. A connector as in claim 5 wherein the base includes a pair of spacedside walls and the top includes a pair of recesses formed in theunderside thereof adapted to accommodate the upper ends of the sidewalls.
 7. A connector adapted to be held in place between the edges oF apair of adjacent holding walls, the edge of a first of the wallsincluding an opening the periphery of which is shaped to embrace aportion of the connector, the connector comprising: a dielectricenclosure having a plug receiving cavity open to the front of theenclosure, a first of the walls defining the plug receiving cavityincluding a plurality of orifices that extend from the front to the rearof the enclosure, the orifices being spaced both from one another andfrom the plug receiving cavity, the first wall further including aplurality of grooves at the front end thereof, each groove beingassociated with an individual orifice and extending transversely to thelongitudinal axis of that orifice, the grooves extending to the plugreceiving cavity and being exposed to the exterior of the enclosure, theexterior of the enclosure including a ledge engaged by the first holdingwall and a slot for accommodating an edge of the second holding wall,the slot having a tongue located there within that is accommodated by acomplementary opening in the edge of the second holding wall forlocating the connector with respect to the second holding wall; and aplurality of contact assemblies, each of which comprises a springcontact having a splicing member at one end, the splicing member of eachcontact assembly being accommodated by an individual orifice, the springcontact extending from the front end of the orifice and including afirst portion positioned within the transverse groove associated withthe orifice and a second portion extending rearwardly cantilever fashionwithin the plug receiving opening.
 8. A connector adapted to be held inplace between the edges of a pair of adjacent holding walls, the edgesof a first of the walls including an opening the periphery of which isshaped to embrace a portion of the connector, the connector comprising:a dielectric enclosure having a plug receiving cavity open to the frontof the enclosure, a first of the walls defining the plug receivingcavity including a plurality of orifices that extend from the front tothe rear of the enclosure, the orifices being spaced both from oneanother and from the plug receiving cavity, the first wall furtherincluding a plurality of grooves at the front end thereof, each groovebeing associated with an individual orifice and extending transverselyto the longitudinal axis of that orifice, the grooves extending to theplug receiving cavity and being exposed to the exterior of theenclosure, the exterior of the enclosure including a ledge engaged bythe first holding wall and a slot for accommodating an edge of thesecond holding wall, one of the surfaces defining the slot including aprotrusion for providing frictional engagement with the second holdingwall; and a plurality of contact assemblies, each of which comprises aspring contact having a splicing member at one end, the splicing memberof each contact assembly being accommodated by an individual orifice,the spring contact extending from the front end of the orifice andincluding a first portion positioned within the transverse grooveassociated with the orifice and a second portion extending rearwardlycantilever fashion within the plug receiving opening.
 9. A slip-onconnector adapted to be secured in place between the edges of a pair ofadjacent holding walls, the edge of a first of the holding wallsincluding a shaped opening, the connector comprising an enclosure havinga plug receiving cavity that is open to the front of the enclosure and aplurality of contacts that are exposed to the interior of the cavity,the front end of the enclosure including external side surfaces that arespaced from one another the same distance as and have the sameconfiguration as the sides of the opening in the first holding wall, thefront end of the enclosure also including a ledge extending on each sideof the plug receiving cavity for engagement by the first holding wall,the enclosure further including a slot for accommodatIng an edge of thesecond holding wall, the slot having a tongue located therewithin, thetongue being accommodated by a complementary opening in the edge of thesecond holding wall for locating the connector with respect to thesecond holding wall.
 10. A slip-on connector adapted to be secured inplace between the edges of a pair of adjacent holding walls, the edge ofa first of the holding walls including a shaped opening, the connectorcomprising an enclosure having a plug receiving cavity that is open tothe front of the enclosure and a plurality of contacts that are exposedto the interior of the cavity, the front end of the enclosure includingexternal side surfaces that are spaced from one another the samedistance as and have the same configuration as the sides of the openingin the first holding wall, the front end of the enclosure also includinga ledge extending on each side of the plug receiving cavity forengagement by the first holding wall, the enclosure further including aslot for accommodating an edge of the second holding wall, the surfacesdefining the slot including a protrusion for providing frictionalengagement with the second holding wall.
 11. A slip-on connector adaptedto be secured in place between the edges of a pair of adjacent holdingwalls, the edge of a first of the holding walls including a shapedopening, the connector comprising an enclosure including external sidesurfaces that are spaced from one another the same distance as and havethe same configuration as the sides of the opening in the first holdingwall, the enclosure also including a ledge for engagement by the firstholding wall and a slot for accommodating an edge of the second holdingwall, the slot having a tongue located therewithin, the tongue beingaccommodated by a complementary opening in the edges of the secondholding wall.
 12. A slip-on connector adapted to be secured in placebetween the edges of a pair of adjacent holding walls, the edge of afirst of the holding walls including a shaped opening, the connectorcomprising an enclosure including external side surfaces that are spacedfrom one another the same distance as and have the same configuration asthe sides of the opening in the first holding wall, the enclosure alsoincluding a ledge for engagement by the first holding wall and a slotfor accommodating an edge of the second holding wall, the surfacesdefining the slot including a protrusion for providing frictionalengagement with the second holding wall.